Markets in Bangkok

Where to find the freshest local food produce, fresh flowers, amulets, general collectables and other items in Bangkok and the surrounding area...

Bangkok has literally hundreds of markets located all over the city. They are a good place to pick up a bargain or just to buy some fresh or cooked food. It's helpful to have some idea of the value of the goods before bargaining or buying. Markets are busiest early morning or evening when many Thais buy fresh produce or pre-cooked food ready to eat.

Some General Markets

Chatuchak Weekend Market: A huge market with over 15,000 stalls selling just about anything. Fresh food, clothes, live animals, local crafts, sunglasses and CDs are just some of the goods on offer. The market is organised into sections selling similar products. There is an information centre with maps of the market (it is easy to get lost). A variety of cooked food is on sale either to take away or eat on the spot. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings there is a special plant market with over 2,000 stalls.

• At: Chatuchak Park MRT or Mo Chit BTS and follow the signs
  Open: 08:00-18:00 Saturday and Sunday (Wednesday and Thursday mornings: Plant Market)

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: This famous floating market southwest of Bangkok can be reached by car or bus. Longtail boat (traditional Thai boat) can be hired to travel around the many waterways of the market. Fresh fruit, vegetables and cooked food are all for sale from the floating market boats. Most of the customers are tourists.

• At: Mae Khlong River, Damnoen Saduak
  Open: 07:00-13:00

Pak Khlong Flower Market: Flowers and fresh vegetables sold alongside the Chao Phraya river, close to Chinatown. The best way to find it is by taxi or take a river boat to Saphan Phut Pier and then take a tuk tuk. A good time to visit is early in the morning soon after the deliveries of fresh produce have been made.

• At: Saphan Phut Pier
  Open: All day, every day

Thewet Plant and Flower Market: Close to Pak Khlong flower market, it sells a wide variety of potted plants as well as flowers. Easiest to reach by river boat or taxi, it is near the National Library.

• At: Thewet Pier, Krung Kasem Road
  Open: daily, 09:00-18:00

Talat Sam Yan: Central Bangkok market with the best selection of fresh fish including grouper, snow fish, parrot fish and tiger prawns. Also a good selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, brewed coffee and tea, imported cookies and snacks, many Chinese ingredients and specialities, gourmet mushrooms, pork, chicken and many restaurants.

• At: Chulalongkorn Soi 6 (near the Phayathai and Rama 4 road intersection)
  Open: daily

Talat Aw Taw Kaw: Relatively expensive and exclusive market with high quality fresh produce selling at high prices. Organic vegetables, farm-raised chickens and imported fruits are a few of the products on sale at this market, which is widely used by chefs from some of the top restaurants in Bangkok. There are also many food vendors selling a selection of cooked food. Close to Chatuchak market on Kamphaeng Phet road.

• Getting there: Kamphaeng Phet MRT station. Exit 3, "Marketing Organization for Farmers"
  Open: daily

Sampeng Lane: Huge market in Chinatown with a wide variety of goods on sale: kids clothes, art and craft materials and toys and much more. The market is open daily and is very busy at weekends.

• At: Wanit 1, Ratchawong, Chinatown.
  Open: 08:00–20:00

OTOP – Thailand Export Mart: The OTOP (One Tambon One Product) brand has outlets all over the country. OTOP products are part of a nationwide sustainable development project to promote local products made by local communities. Each Tambon (sub district area) produces individual arts and craft products that are then sold in a variety of outlets including shops, airports and annual fairs. In Bangkok contact details of the main outlet are as follows:

• At: 6th/F, Thailand Export Mart, Ratchadapisek Rd, Chatuchak, 10900.
  Tel: 02 511 5279
  Open: 09:00-17:00 Monday to Saturday

Night Markets

Ratchadaphisek (Ratchada) Night Market: Night market selling vintage goods, second-hand items, a variety of new goods and cooked food. Expect to find antique books, collectables, movie and advertising posters, Thai and foreign vinyl records, second-hand turntables, TV sets, used toys, leather accessories, portrait paintings, used clothing, car and motorcycle common and rare parts, cars (old VW vans) and motorcycles, camera and computers.

• At: Between the Ratchadapisek (Ratchada) and Lat Phrao Metro stations on Ratchadapisek road close to the Ratchadapisek and Lat Phrao road intersection
  Open: from dusk until midnight every Saturday

Patpong Night Market: Located next to many bars and strip clubs, clothes and CDs are sold. Items tend to be counterfeit copies and the prices first quoted are high but can be bargained down.

• At: Silom MRT or Sala Daeng BTS, Soi Patpong 1 & 2
  Open: Daily 18:00-24:00 approximately

Amulet Markets

There are several amulet markets throughout Bangkok, many are simply roadside stalls. Many Thais believe in the protective value and other specific qualities of either wearing or being the "owner" of an amulet. Amulets cannot be owned as there are rules prohibiting the sale of images of Buddha so amulets are "rented" permanently to their new guardians. There are two famous amulet markets in Bangkok:

• At: Wat Rajnadda, Mahachai Road
  Open: 08:00-17:00
• At: Wat Mahathat, between the temple and Silpakorn University
  Open: 08:00-18:00